From the Curators: Pandora’s Guide To Music From the Big Screen

Music has always been the heart of the movie industry. Intimate parlor rooms, crazy fraternity parties, a grand coronation or a foggy road are all are enhanced by music that fits what the audience sees on screen and helps to tell the story. With the Oscars being presented on Sunday to wrap up this year’s awards season, Pandora celebrates the music that makes our movies great with two genre stations: Film Scores and Movie Soundtracks. Let’s take a look back at some of the memorable music that Hollywood has offered moviegoers over the years.

The use of original film scores dates back to the early 20th century when silent movies started to emerge. Due to the loud film projectors (and perhaps audience members!), music was used to mask the distracting noises. In-house instrumentalists performed improvised music using cue sheets to help guide them through the film. As movies evolved to include sound, Hollywood began hiring composers to create original film scores typically performed by an ensemble of musicians like an orchestra, band, instrumental soloists, choir or vocalists.

On our Film Scores station, you’ll hear a homage to Hollywood’s classic movies up to the most recent blockbusters. This past year brought an array of film scores from films like Skyfall, Life of Pi, Anna Karenina, Lincoln and Argo. You will also hear works from renowned composers like:

Music in film helps convey emotion and carry the viewer through specific scenes that may otherwise be difficult to follow. Whether it is “As Time Goes By” or “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” specific songs can conjure up memories of the films they came from.